Councillors against food sales at site of current B&Q store

The landlord of the B&Q store at Milton of Craigie has been refused permission for food sales in the premises.

Threadneedle Investments told the city council the DIY chain was planning to quit and it had a new tenant lined up, B&M Homestore, which needed to be able to devote some of its floorspace to food.

Council planning officers said Threadneedle had failed to show there was insufficient food retailing in the area, or that its proposal would not harm shops in the city centre or elsewhere.

Councillors unanimously refused the planning application.

A B&Q spokeswoman said: “To date no decision has been made on renewing the lease in March 2015.”

* The development management committee voted 14 to 11 to grant permission for a cash machine which has already been installed at the Spar store at 306-308 Perth Road.

Ward councillor Fraser Macpherson had called for refusal on pedestrian safety grounds, but the committee accepted officers’ recommendation there were no planning reasons to refuse consent.

* A planning application by Angus Housing Association for 25 homes in Ormiston Crescent has been temporarily withdrawn for changes.